Rays call up Myers

Published: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 11:02 p.m.

DURHAM | Wil Myers is heading to the big leagues and the 22-year-old outfielder will make his debut with the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, when the team plays a doubleheader at Boston.

Myers, who's from Thomasville, has been playing with the International League's Durham Bulls in his first season in the Rays organization after a blockbuster December trade between the Rays and Kansas City Royals.

"I didn't know it was coming (on this day)," Myers said Sunday of the promotion. "I was very excited."

Myers came out of Sunday's game in the top of the third inning against the Indianapolis Indians at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Manager Charlie Montoyo told him in the dugout about the pending move.

Minutes later, his parents and other family members in attendance departed the seating area amid hugs and handshakes.

"Good for him, he's going to be a star for a long time, I believe," Montoyo said.

Myers, who made his professional debut in 2009 as a catcher with the Burlington Royals after a mid-summer signing, said he has been to Fenway Park previously during a pre-draft workout.

In his final two at-bats with the Bulls, Myers hit a mammoth game-winning home run in the eighth inning Saturday night and then provided a first-inning double and later scored Sunday.

"Hit a ball that's like still going," Montoyo said of the blast by Myers. "It's fun to watch a prospect like that. They don't come around very often. When he hits the ball, the ball goes a long way — it's fun to watch.

"Everyone is expecting (a promotion), you just don't know when it's going to happen. He's pushing the envelope, hitting those bombs."

Myers batted .286 with 14 home runs, 13 doubles and a league-leading 57 runs batted in across 64 games with Durham. He was second on the team with 44 runs scored.

He's making this next step during a hot stretch. He has five homers in June.

"The opportunity (is here)," Myers said. "It's cool to be able to go up when I'm feeling good at the plate."

Montoyo said: "He's still going to make more adjustments (because) he's going to the big leagues now. He's still going to hit the fastball."

The mid-game news created a discussion point among the Bulls.

"It was only a matter of time before he got called up," Bulls reliever Kirby Yates said. "When you know it's him, it's not really surprising at all."

Bulls reliever Jeff Beliveau, who has been sent to the Tampa Bay team twice this spring, said: "As soon as he gets taken out (of the game), everyone knew. Everyone is playing GM … 'What moves are they going to make?' "

Myers will be the fourth former Burlington Royal to play in the big leagues, following catcher Salvador Perez, pitcher Kelvin Herrera and outfielder Dave Lough. Myers, who received Minor League Player of the Year honors in 2012 when he competed for Class AA and Class AAA teams in the Royals organization, will be the first of those big leaguers to play for a team other than Kansas City.

Durham won Sunday's game, 5-2, as starting pitcher J.D. Martin (9-3) worked seven innings, giving up two runs (on Andrew Lambo's home run) and four hits. Brandon Guyer scored two runs for the Bulls.

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